This conference served as an important platform for learning and facilitating discussion around the challenging task of bringing diverse sectors together to improve maternal and child nutrition in India. The conference intended to bring together evidence that can inform and support current policy and program initiatives for nutrition that require cross-sectoral action by two or more sectors, such as the Government of India’s Multisectoral Program to Address Maternal and Child Malnutrition in 200 Selected High-Burden Districts. Attendees had the opportunity to explore how decisions and actions in different sectors can influence nutrition, and how effective cross-sectoral actions can be planned, implemented and assessed. Specific objectives of the conference were to:

Provide a platform for dialogue on how to advance multisectoral or intersectoral collaboration in India

Showcase examples of collaboration between various sectors on program development and implementation to address nutrition

Examine approaches for research on multisectoral and intersectoral collaboration and convergence in India

Explore how the current public policy and environment provides opportunities and challenges for multisectoral or intersectoral approaches addressing nutrition in India

Provide opportunity for networking among nutrition professionals and those working across sectors

Examples of working across sectors include:

State nutrition missions that include multi- or inter-sectoral coordination and convergence

District-level convergence to bring health and ICDS together to strengthen delivery of nutrition-specific interventions